Let my struggles refine me.
Garrett, Beaverton, OR. Most people label me as a “rich white boy”. That’s the complete opposite. I grew up in poverty. My Mom made less...
Privileged. No choice in the matter.
Kole Myrick, Portland, OR. As a trans man I often feel very marginalized, but when you look at it based solely on race, I have...
Never judge a book by cover…
Robert Whitsell, Coos Bay, OR I am very white with a little Native, but I have never allowed that to define me. I ask before...
At least I’m not a whiteboy
Julia Rivers, Milwaukie, OR. As a high school student dependent on scholarships in order to attend college and reach my goals of a much higher...
Greek American, cheeseburger cheeseburger not funny
N. Blandis, Portland, OR. I am a second generation American born of Greek parents. My father’s birth certificate in Los Angeles California in 1921 listed...
MLK’s promissory note sent back….again.
Steffen Estrada Portland, OR I was 13 years old when I heard Dr. King’s August 1963 speech and it hit me like a brick. From...
Conversations and connections change perspective
Mary Jo Nash, Oakland, CA The one connection we all have is that we are human. I am lucky because when I was pretty young...
Grandma didn’t let dad speak Spanish
Allen Nunez Wickham, Molalla, OR. I remember being asked by my mom at 5 years old if I wanted to learn Spanish., and replying that...
Denmark: married my niece: beloved family
Nancy Clark Wilsonville, OR Denmark is black, he has been married to my niece for 24 years and I love him more than I can...
United we stand, divided we fall.
Chad Beauvais, Bend, OR. You are exactly right for sharing your real story. Many people feel the same way as you do and have similar...
HammersteinII: You’ve Got to be Taught.
Luc Charwin Salem, OR It may be trite and unoriginal to use someone else’s words. However, the lyrics of that song brought this topic into...
White privleged woman, giving back occasionally
Andrea Sigetich, Bend, OR. I know much about privilege, having done diversity work in major high technology corporations. The important word in my essay is...
Black or white everyone uses tools
Ted Mittelstaedt, Portland, OR. I was born in 1966 and by age 13 I knew how to solder and by age 15 I was building...
Think Grace, Act Grace, Teach Grace
Kelsey Connolly, Wilsonville, OR. “Think Grace, Act Grace, Teach Grace” I have always been a learner at heart, but not necessarily an excellent student. In...
